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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Just a comment on CXR. I like your advice to hold on and not take a big loss through panic. How often have we seen a general market panic? Brexit being the most recent example. I see it as a similar thing. The sector is in a panic and CXR seems to be the favorite whipping boy with perhaps influences from a short seller or two.
Anyway having your confirmation to stand pat makes me feel better about my decision to hang on.
Read Answer Asked by David on July 25, 2016
Q: My question concerns fuel pricing and specifically, profit margins. Prior to ATD.B's last quarter results, concerns were raised about a potential decline in profit margins from gas sales. However, I thought retail gas price margins were quite stable and that it was the underlying price of oil that caused gas prices to gyrate. In fact, I thought retailers were helped by fluctuating oil prices because they are quick to raise prices when oil goes up (thus selling lower priced inventories gas at a higher price) but slow to lower them when oil drops. Is this thesis correct? If I am at least somewhat correct, it would therefore seem that overall sales is not that important a metric for these companies.

How much do gasoline profits contribute to these companies over all profits? Or are in store sales more important?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on July 25, 2016
Q: While I realize that no one has a crystal ball, do you have any thoughts regarding the possible timing of a possible sale of the company or, if not, a decision not to sell for that matter? I wondered if it might be around the next quarters(August 12 ) results when there may be a better understanding of the impact of Brexit on the company's finances. Or do you think that this might require another quarter or so to sort itself out? Any thoughts on the probability of a sale actually happening? At this time the market seems to be discounting any potential sale!
Read Answer Asked by John on July 25, 2016
Q: Can you offer 4 or 5 companies being considered for addition or on the cusp of making into each of your portfolios; growth, balanced, income? Many thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on July 22, 2016
Q: I am wondering what would be a normal p/e for Concordia? Also perhaps you can shed some light on the difference between cash flow and levered free cash flow.I understood the latter represented the cash left over after debt obligations have been paid. With their substantial debt I expected Concordia's levered cash low to be substantially less and yet Yahoo Finance shows cash flow per share of $4.10 and levered at $6.55.
As always your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Mike
Read Answer Asked by michael on July 22, 2016
Q: On the fixed income side of a portfolio 5i has included both conv. debs. and prefs. Do you see them as having a similar risk profile? With new money would you choose CVD or CPD? and why? I am having a hard time finding CDs that are worth the risk, yet the rate reset pref. market seems like a "bargin" assuming rates go up in the next 5,10,15 years.
Read Answer Asked by Ronald on July 21, 2016
Q: I am thinking of diversifying my income portfolio and would appreciate if you could comment on the merits of the above and which one you would recommend.

Thanks

Wayne
Read Answer Asked by Wayne on July 20, 2016
Q: DBO is planning to get permission from stock holders at its annual & special meeting on Aug 17,2016 for a ten for one reverse split.In my experience this is never good for small investors because once the reverse takes place the value of the stock invariably drops.If it goes through, should I sell? Could you tell me why they are doing this other than to attract larger buyers who can't purchase stocks under 5 or 6 dollars.DBO has 175 million shares out. What do you think of that number? Does it need a reduction. As always thanks for your advice in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Dave on July 20, 2016
Q: Good Morning Peter, Ryan, and Team,
I manage an income oriented account which closely tracks the 5i Income Portfolio. However within that account I do have a small basket of more growthy but still steady eddy names with position weights of 2% each. The idea is to squeeze out a bit more return than just income stocks over time. The present holdings are GUD, SIS, ESL, SYZ, BCI, PKI. I was thinking of adding FSV and DSG to this group. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. DL
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on July 18, 2016
Q: Could you give your insight into the growth profile for Shopify wrt revenue, margins, balance sheet, etc. Who are or could be their customers? What is their biggest risk? What are some companies, current ones and already successful ones, that you might compare Shopify to? And if you did rate it, what letter grade would you give it?
Thanks for your continuous assessment of so many different companies. Tis very informative.
Read Answer Asked by James on July 18, 2016
Q: CXR has lots of headwinds (brexit, pricing environment, debt levels, questions about their business model, etc). if debt level is one of the biggest headwinds the company faces, and current cash flow will take years to pay down debt, is it possible the company issues shares, even at this really reduced price, to pay down debt?
Read Answer Asked by Richard on July 18, 2016